Fraser Hurrell, Author at Whangarei Accountants - Elevate CA - Tax, Xero, Business Development, Accounting

Customer Engagement (North Harbour)

If you’re tired of competing on Price or Product, come along to get some good practical tips from our panel on how to build a better business based on Customer Loyalty.

This Business Owners Forum event will be held on Thursday 16 June at 5:30pm at the BNZ Partners Centre, Constelletion Drive in North Harbour.

Here’s who will be on the panel:

David Espiner. David is a director of the CX Group >>>, who specialise in helping businesses implement strategies and systems to differentiate based on customer engagement. David will share some of the mindsets, tips and tricks that will make a real difference on this journey.

Fraser Hurrell. As a director of Elevate CA Limited >>>, Fraser enjoys helping his clients implement simple measurement systems that can monitor business KPIs on a monthly basis. Fraser will show you how to include customer experience as a measurable KPI.

Michael Masterson. Michael is the former CEO of SalesForce >>> – one of Australiasia’s largest customer service organisations. Michael will share some of the tips that smaller businesses can learn from the way large service oriented corporates manage customer engagement.

As always, Business Owners Forum events are free of charge to attend. Just email Fraser Hurrell >>> before 14 June to reserve your seat – and to join the invite list for future events, enter your details in the boxes to your right.

Shareholders Agreements (Whangarei)

Do you have a signed shareholders’ agreement? Can you lay your hands on a copy? Is it up to date and relevant?

What would happen if you or one of your shareholders wanted out of the business? What would happen if you or one of your fellow shareholders were permanently incapacitated and unable to continue working in the business? If one of your shareholders were to die unexpectedly, would you suddenly find yourself in business with his or her spouse? Would that cause difficulties?

Does the business have insurance to cover those possibilities? Who owns the insurance policy and how do you know the proceeds will be used for their intended purpose?

These are all good questions, and business owners should have an equally good answer. Especially if you are in business with one or more unrelated shareholders.

On 25 May, the Business Owners Forum will discuss these questions and more. The panelists for this event are:

Chris Taylor. Chris is a Senior Lawyer in the Webb Ross Commercial team. Chris has had a hand in negotiating and drafting numerous shareholders agreements for his clients – and he will share some of the tips and pitfalls in this process.

Fraser Hurrell. Fraser is a director of Elevate CA Limited – a company with three unrelated shareholders. Fraser will recount the process he and his fellow shareholders went through in arriving at a robust agreement including what they did well and what they might do differently next time.

The third panelist will be confirmed and posted here shortly. He or she will discuss some of the risks inherent in being in business with unrelated shareholders – and some of the ways you can mitigate these risks.

This event will be held at Elevate CA from 5:30pm to 7:00pm on 25 May. Street address and contact details are here >>>.

As always, Business Owners Forum events are free of charge to attend. Just email Fraser Hurrell >>> before 23 May to reserve your seat – and to join the invite list for future events, enter your details in the boxes to your right.

News from Hayley …

Many people have asked how Hayley is getting on – and whether her baby has arrived safely. Well now we can answer that question. Maia Lucy Lenihan was born on 7 April weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds 15 ounces. Mother and baby are happy and well.

Most accountants have the date 7 April etched into their memory as terminal tax day – but from now on this will be a big day for Hayley for more important reasons!

Hayley will be returning to Elevate CA from the beginning of July – and we’re looking forward to having her back amongst the crew.

Check out Hayley’s full profile here >>>.

Fishhook in the 90 Day Trial Period

Business owners will be aware that from 1 April, the 90 day trial provisions have been extended to cover all workplaces. Previously this provision was available only in workplaces with fewer than 20 employees.

But many business owners may not be aware of this potential snag:

If you wish to include a 90 day trial period in your employment agreement, you must ensure the employment agreement is signed before your new employee steps foot on your premises to start work.

Consider the recent Employment Court case Smith v Stokes Valley Pharmacy (2009) Limited. Heather Smith was provided with a draft employment agreement by her prospective employer on 29 September which included a 90 day trial period. She accepted the position on the basis of the draft employment agreement, and started work on 1 October. But she did not actually sign her employment agreement until the next day – 2 October.

If everyone had lived happily at Stokes Valley Pharmacy for at least 90 days, we would have no cause to discuss the nitty gritty of Heather Smith’s employment on this page. But all did not go well – and Heather Smith was dismissed on 8 December under the 90 day trial provision in her employment agreement.

Stokes Valley Pharmacy relied on the 90 day trial period for comfort that Heather Smith would not be able to bring a personal grievance in respect of the dismissal. But after her dismissal, she did attempt to lodge a personal grievance. And despite the fact that Heather Smith and Stokes Valley Pharmacy had a signed employment agreement with a 90 day trial period, the Employment Court ruled that she was entitled to bring a personal grievance.

The Court stated that under the Employment Relations Act, trial periods only apply to “an employee who has not been previously employed by the employer”. Because Heather Smith had worked for one day before signing her employment agreement, she was an existing employee at the time she signed up for the 90 day trial period. And therefore Stokes Valley Pharmacy could not rely on the trial provisions.

There were some other complicating issues in the Heather Smith case, but the one point from the case I want to make is this:

Regardless of whether you include a trial period, always ensure you have a signed employment agreement with a new team member before they step foot on your premises to start work for the first time.

And if your new team member has worked even for one day before signing onto the 90 day trial period – or if a past employee applies for a job in your business – then the 90 day trial provision cannot be used.

As best practice, we would suggest you go one step further and make it very clear at the time a job offer is made that it will be subject to a 90 day trial period. Remember that the 90 day trial period provisions do not apply by default – a trial period must be explicitly agreed up front and clearly stated in the employment agreement.

Management vs Leadership – Albany

What is the difference between leadership and management? What separates the great from the mediocre in business leadership? How can you hone your own leadership skills to be equal with the best?

Come along to this Business Owners Forum event to hear from some of our outstanding local leaders and managers in the SME space – and to take away some real practical tips for improving your own performance!

This event will be held at the BNZ Partners Centre, 61 Constellation Drive, North Harbour at 5:30pm on Thursday 14 April.

This event will be MC’d by Ngaio Merrick, Business Development Manager of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development >>>. And we have a great panel who stand out for different reasons:

Paul Adams. Paul is CEO of Everedge IP >>> – a local success story that occupies an important niche serving ambitious technology entrepreneurs and leading companies globally. Paul founded Everedge IP in 2003 and has lead its growth over the past eight years. Paul will share some of the leadership mindsets, tips and techniques that have made a real difference on his journey.

Grant Hewson. As General Manager of Accomplish Global >>>, Grant describes himself as a balanced manager with a sound understanding of all functions, with a focus on sales and marketing. Grant will share his views on the ingredients for leadership success.

Michael Masterson. Michael is the former CEO of SalesForce >>> – one of Australiasia’s largest customer service organisations who employ 7,000 staff and hold 100 million conversations with their customers each year. Michael will share some of the leadership tips from his journey at the helm of SalesForce.

As always, Business Owners Forum events are free of charge to attent. Just email Fraser Hurrell >>> before 12 April to reserve your seat – and to join the invite list for future events, enter your details in the boxes to your right.

This event will be repeated in Whangarei with a different panel on 21 July.